Monthly Archives: July 2014

Reluctant Heroes & HIV Stories

The reluctant killer is a story of survival, of someone battling the worst kind of personal illness and, just when he finally thinks he is getting his life back, is caught up in a horrific event, totally beyond his control. Visiting his favourite city, New York, he finds himself captured by terrorists and part of a hostage situation. Kidnapped and at the mercy of killers with no regard for human life.

New York is no stranger to terrorism and the events of 9/11 are ingrained into the memory of not just every New Yorker, but also the world’s population who watched in horror as the events unfolded on the TV and the Internet.

Killers are at large on the streets of New York once more. The counter-terrorism system quickly swings into action and the terrorists are backed into a corner. But they have an ace up their sleeve, hostages and plenty of them. Things may not have gone exactly to plan, but they are determined to have their comrades, held in the Bagram Detention Centre in Afghanistan, set free. No matter what the cost.

The situation is bad enough for anyone, but for Mark Thorpe, now held against his will and with no access to his life saving medication, he then finds himself subjected to brutal treatment that leaves him battered and, even worse, bleeding. The hostages with him have no idea that he is HIV positive and try to help him. He cannot explain why but he has to recoil against their kindness. Even though, in this situation, he understands that the hostages should all be sticking together and helping each other out. Unfortunately not all the hostages take that view, there are those that believe only in the survival of the fittest and are even prepared to sacrifice others to look after themselves. Some of the worst traits of the human race start to emerge and not just from the terrorists.

Mark Thorpe feels a steely resolve come over him, he is not prepared to let these people kill him or any of the other innocent hostages, no matter how badly they behave. He doesn’t know what he going to do, but he knows he is not just going to roll over and let the terrorists end his life. He had battled against HIV and now he was ready to do battle with the terrorists.

He was about to become one of those reluctant heroes with a killer instinct,the sort that do what they have to do and then go back to as normal a life as possible. Unfortunately for Mark, events were going to occur that would prevent him ever doing that.

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Corporate Greed in the World of Banking

Once upon a time . . . bankers were respected. Not loved, perhaps, but trusted and consulted when times got rough or money was needed for a special investment.

But as scandal mounted upon scandal in recent years, this respect has evaporated. The reputation of our major banks has sunk to unprecedented lows, and there’s worse to come. Some of the banks are still engaging in disgraceful behaviour and are in denial about past misconduct.

In Jonathan Veale’s latest novel, this fascinating world is scrutinised, and blame laid where it belongs: at boardroom level where decisions are made that determine who does what in their organisations.

Of course mistakes can be made by any institution, and sometimes it is hard to pin down responsibility. But in this case, misconduct has been discovered on such a broad scale that the only conclusion one can come to is that the directors were either asleep on their watch, or complicit in creating and encouraging outrageous practices that plundered their clients’ accounts.

The Whistleblower Affair tackles boardroom behaviour head on, and describes the greed and ignorance that has been responsible for bringing many banks to the point of doom. Some would even describe it as corporate crime at the highest level.

Of course, there are some who opposed bad behaviour and as the story develops, their hand is strengthened as, one after the other, those responsible for nodding through poor practice are dealt with.

In this novel there is drama, humour, retribution and facts . . . astounding facts that reveal just how widespread and criminal some of the scandals were. And women play a large part in pointing out to the men that their attitudes and outlook are dated. Times have moved on and finance is too important to be left in the hands of a cosy coterie of clubbable gentlemen who, over cigars and champagne, decide what’s best for the great unwashed. The days of the bank manager and his temple-like branch around every corner are nearly over. The internet and electronic banking are about to transform how we all approach money matters, and dozy bankers unprepared for rapid change are going to find the going ever tougher. Change or die will soon be the clarion call. But will the present directors change their approach in time? It’s by no means clear they will.

A great read, with revelations spiced with the inside view of an out of touch profession.

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Available now in Kindle format this banking exposeis available from Amazon, you can purchase the book and be reading it in a matter of minutes. Use the links below: